Every week this new series will take a look at the predicted starting line-ups for clubs in the English Premier League. Knowing which players are expected to play each weekend is a crucial element for every active Fantasy Football manager. The starting XIs for the EPL clubs is increasingly hard to predict, due to congested fixture calendars and the quality of squad depths as a result of the vast amounts of money the EPL clubs generate.
For the moment, we will consider the lineups of the top-6 teams in the Premier League as it stands by the start of the upcoming gameweek, divided over two articles. This part 2 covers the teams in positions 4 to 6, while part 1 has covered the lineups for positions 1 to 3. We might analyse the lineups of all teams at a later stage, based on the interest shown in this series. As far as gameweek 22 goes, we will take a look at confirmed starting lineups for the top-6 teams in gameweek 21, compare those to our predictions for that gameweek, and then predict their lineups for gameweek 22.
For much of the injury news mentioned in these pieces, we consult, among other club-specific sources, the excellent Twitter account and website of Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery). Lineups are written down from left to right, as seen from the goalkeeper’s perspective (so in defence, for example, from left-back to right-back).
Factors potentially affecting lineups per team in the build-up to GW22
| Chelsea | FA Cup 3rd Round vs. Nottingham Forest (H) on 05/01/20: 2-0 |
| Manchester United | League Cup SF vs. Manchester City (H) on 08/01/20: 1-3 |
| Spurs | FA Cup 3rd Round vs Middlesbrough (A) on 05/01/20: 1-1 |
The Premier League at the start of gameweek 22 (positions 3 to 7)
| 3 | Manchester City | 44 pts |
| 4 | Chelsea | 36 pts |
| 5 | Manchester United | 31 pts |
| 6 | Spurs | 30 pts |
| 7 | Wolves | 30 pts |
Lineups for gameweek 21: Predicted vs. confirmed
CHELSEA (away vs. Brighton, 1-1)
| PREDICTED GAMEWEEK 21 | CONFIRMED GAMEWEEK 21 | ||
| Form. | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 | |
| FOR | Abraham | Abraham | |
| MID | Pulisic, Mount, Willian | Pulisic, Mount, Willian | |
| DEF MID | Kovacic, Kanté | Jorginho, Kanté | |
| DEF | Emerson, Zouma, Rüdiger, Azpilicueta | Azpilicueta, Zouma, Rüdiger, R. James | |
| GK | Kepa | Kepa | |
| Subs | /// | (2nd half) Hudson-Odoi > Pulisic, Kovacic > Mount | |
| Goals | /// | Azpilicueta (Abraham) |
MANCHESTER UNITED (away vs. Arsenal, 2-0)
| PREDICTED GAMEWEEK 21 | CONFIRMED GAMEWEEK 21 | ||
| Form. | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 | |
| FOR | Martial | Martial | |
| MID | Rashford, A. Pereira, D. James | Rashford, Lingard, D. James | |
| DEF MID | Matic, Fred | Matic, Fred | |
| DEF | Shaw, Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka | Shaw, Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka | |
| GK | De Gea | De Gea | |
| Subs | /// | (2nd half) A. Pereira > Lingard, Greenwood > D. James, Mata > Matic | |
| Goals | /// | /// |
SPURS (away vs. Southampton, 1-0)
| PREDICTED GAMEWEEK 21 | CONFIRMED GAMEWEEK 21 | ||
| Form. | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 | |
| FOR | Kane | Kane | |
| MID | Moura, Alli, Sissoko | Eriksen, Alli, Moura | |
| DEF MID | Winks, Ndombele | Ndombele, Sissoko | |
| DEF | Vertonghen, Alderweireld, D. Sanchez, Aurier | Sessegnon, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Aurier | |
| GK | Gazzaniga | Gazzaniga | |
| Subs | /// | (1st half) Lo Celso > Ndombele (2nd half) Lamela > Kane | |
| Goals | /// | /// |
Predicted lineups for gameweek 22
CHELSEA (home vs. Burnley)
| Form. | |
| FOR | Abraham |
| MID | Pulisic, Mount, Willian |
| DEF MID | Jorginho, Kanté |
| DEF | Azpilicueta, Zouma, Rüdiger, R. James |
| GK | Kepa |
| Ruled out | Loftus-Cheek |
| Doubtful | Alonso, Pulisic |
| Notes | After a few largely disappointing attempts at an alternative 5-2-3 formation, we expect manager Frank Lampard to field his most frequently used 4-2-3-1 against Burnley. In defence, he seems to be favouring R. James on the right side over Emerson on the left side, which means Chelsea would line up with Azpilicueta on the left and R. James on the right. In the middle, Zouma and Rüdiger should continue to start. Kanté is a nailed-on starter in the middle, with Jorginho and Kovacic vying for the second spot next to the Frenchman. We’ve gone with the former for this game. Abraham will start up front, with Mount and Willian certainly in his back. The final midfield spot would be for Pulisic, but he’s doubtful for this one, which could see Hudson-Odoi start. We’ve put our money on the American forward, but keep an eye out for any team news from the Blues. |
MANCHESTER UNITED (home vs. Norwich)
| Form. | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 |
| FOR | Martial |
| MID | Rashford, A. Pereira, D. James |
| DEF MID | Matic, Fred |
| DEF | Shaw, Jones, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka |
| GK | De Gea |
| Ruled out | McTominay, Pogba, Tuanzebe, Rojo, Bailly, Maguire |
| Doubtful | Shaw, |
| Notes | Two heavy losses on the bounce should see manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer field his strongest possible starting lineup, as far as injuries allow. Maguire has been ruled out for this one by OGS, which might see Jones return to the starting lineup. Shaw is a doubt as well, but we expect him to start. The double pivot is likely to be formed once more by Matic and Fred. After a disappointing showing against City in the League Cup, we can see Lingard being replaced by A. Pereira at the number-10 position. The remaining three attacking spots will be filled by Rashford, Martial and D. James. |
SPURS (home vs. Liverpool)
| Form. | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 |
| FOR | Son |
| MID | Sessegnon, Alli, Moura |
| DEF MID | Eriksen, Dier |
| DEF | Vertonghen, Alderweireld, D. Sanchez, Aurier |
| GK | Gazzaniga |
| Ruled out | Sissoko, Lloris, Rose, Ndombele, Kane, Davies |
| Doubtful | None |
| Notes | With a bunch of recent new injuries, manager José Mourinho will need to get a little creative. Considering the opponent is Liverpool this weekend, it becomes hard to predict which approach the Portuguese coach will pick. We believe he might very well continue with a back-four with Vertonghen at left-back for extra defensive solidity. Dier should slot into the defensive midfield, especially with Sissoko and Ndombele most likely unavailable for this game. Eriksen could start besides him as the main man to launch Tottenham’s counter-attacks. With Kane out injured until April, Son and Moura might be filling in up front, alternating their positioning between the wings and the point. For speed on the wings, Sessegnon could get the nod, while Alli should start as well. |